I went looking for experiences of R53 owners who have had their cars flashed with the JCW software, so I thought I'd start a thread. And the JCW Garage seems like the right place, even though I'll be happy to move over to another forum if this one's exclusively for JCW cars, not just JCW mods.

Anyway, I installed JCW injectors on my 2005 MCS Saturday and got the ECU flashed this morning. First and early impressions suggest a fatter mid-range, smooth power application, but nothing fantastic. I'm coming off a Unichip with stock injectors (which always outperformed the stock ECU flash in every regard).

I'll report more as time goes by.

 

did you do the reflash at a dealer? if so, and if you don't mind me asking you...how much did they charge you? i'm about to put in the upgrade kit

 

No worries. I paid $50, which *may* have included my Mini club discount of 10%, but it's unlikely as they didn't mention it.
The injectors cost $300, so a nice upgrade for a smoother fatter mid torque so far.

phil

 

You went from Unichip to JCW flash...why?

The Alta Unichip?

 

I had a Unichip tuned from the actual company, Unichip. (wrt Alta, I approached them last year about flashing my unit with their maps, but I never got a response...)
The JCW is at least as good as the Unichip, and better in some respects. I don't think I'm getting more HP, but take off is improved and the mid-range shows a smooth application of power.
Next step...RMW. (or a head and cam and RMW)

 

plan on some Bosch 440's. Good thing is you won't lose much on resale of the 380's.

 

I never would have thought that the JCW flash would be better than Unichip...but hey, whatever works...

 

Can/should you get the JCW flash without upgrading the stock injectors or any other parts. Have been told for the money this is the best upgrade that can be done.

 

Well you *can* but I doubt you should. And it certainly isnt in the "best upgrade" category by any means...

Now today I reinstalled my Unichip, just 'coz the car felt like a dog yesterday, and it wasnt the 95F ambient temperatures, and they've been around all week.

Let's see...

 

I did the JCW injectors and ECU upgrade together and it was a good improvement. I noticed a stronger high RPM pull.Now high ambient temps kill my little car,even with the GP IC. I would love to install HO2 Aquamist injection.

 

I am going to be adding the JCW injectors next month. Am I going to have any trouble with the software upgrade b/c mine is an automatic? I have been told that it should not matter, but I wanted to check with someone who has already had it done.

 

Your gearbox shouldn't make a difference. I hope not anyway--that's discrimination!

 

Yeah...I mean the only real difference is that the engine sits higher up than on a stick...but who cares what software it has?! They should give it to you!

 

What kind of HP output would I be looking at after I get the JCW injectors w/ software upgrade, 15% pulley, JCW CAI, and JCW exhaust?
I will be getting the JCW injectors next month so I was just wondering about the HP output.

 

185 wHP (210 crank HP) & that's better than stock JCW (10.4% pulley reduction).

 

But he still will not have the JCW head work and the revised JCW supercharger ...so

 

I know this is off the original topic of this thread, but I'm curious - I just had a Unichip Q re-mapped (by Unichip) for my R53. I've only got a Dinan CAI. If I go with the JCW injectors, should I get my Unichip re-mapped (again)? A better question - any benefit to jcw injectors without a pulley upgrade (mine is stock 06 MCS). I'd really like to find a 'stealth' pulley, 15% reduction, that looks like stock, so my dealer won't 'see' it. To avoid warranty issues. Anyone know if reduction pulleys show up on the dealer diagnostics? Higher boost levels and all that?

 

Pretty sure the "revised JCW supercharger" became standard for 05-06. And the JCW Head work isn't much...

 

I had the JCW flash with the mods below until I could get a Jan Tune and thought it was a good bang for the buck mod and would work with the JCW injector upgrade. The day of the Jan tune was 95 degrees with 80% humidity and the first base pull showed 189 WHP and 177 ft pounds of torque with a pretty nice smooth power curve. Of coarse things were much better after Jan's magic...

 

so i just got quoted $168 to do the jcw flash they said it's 1.5 hours of labor isn't this more or less a plug 'n play deal? i also got quoted ~50 bucks to also activate my rear fogs. that's $200+ for plugging it in and press buttons...

DrPhilGandini, did you do it at a dealer?

 

I paid $100.00 at my dealer and yes they just download the file to your ECU.

 

I originally had the JCW flash from the dealer when they installed the JCW kit. Noticeable improvements, but the RMW tune made a considerable improvement over the stock JCW flash! More RMW to come...

:edit:
The mechanic at the dealer told me it takes a couple of hours to to do the JCW flash because they have to download the update. Which evidently is where most of the time is spent. Even uploading the software to the Mini ECU takes a bit of time.

 

Looking at the parts themselves the JCW GP cars use the stock R53 cam and valves the only differences appearing to be intake, exhaust, injectors and headwork. The JCW GP pulley is about 11% reduction.

I am currently working on a stock head port/polish. Once that is ready to go on the car I am thinking GP injectors and a GP flash will make my car a touch more powerful than a GP since I am running 16% and 2% on the pulleys.

I know the GP injectors are different from the JCW 210 kit injectors anyone know what size the 2 are?

 

JCW is 380 don't know about the GP.

 

I thought the JCW and the GP injectors were the same...